One thing that I never really thought would affect how I would work is workplace layout. At my placement there are two large offices with four consultants in each office. I was lucky enough to squeeze into one of the offices comfortably.
By working in an office with three senior consultants and another more junior consultant I have been able to learn so much about public relations, simply by osmosis! By listening to what people are doing and their reasoning for doing it. In our office it is such a great atmosphere with information and communication flowing freely, people frequently ask one another about what their thoughts are on certain topics and why. I think that being able to experience this first hand gave me the confidence to ask them lots of questions and give feedback where I could.
I didn’t really realise the affect that the layout had had on me until I was discussing what I wanted to do once I had finished my degree with my supervisor. To my surprise (and maybe to some of my consultancy class members too) I have realised that working in a consultancy has been a wonderful place to learn especially in one where the layout allows for a free flow communication. I would love to keep working in that area of PR simply because of the amount that I have been able to learn in such a short space of time in that environment.
I wanted to see if anyone else had been affected by their office layout as much as I have been?
5 comments:
Zoey,
You seem to be working in a very pleasant surrounding. I like it how you and your colleagues help each other by asking questions and giving feedback.
I don't really know how this affect me because in the office there is only 3 staff including my self, the secretary and the manager. I don't really get to exchange ideas with my colleagues but maybe if there were 2 of us in the internship, it would be a big help? then we can expand our ideas and knowledge to an extend.
Another thing which i find interesting is the different cultures in an office. I think it plays a big role everywhere in the world, being able to adapt to each others culture is tough or just weird in some ways. You see, I am Indonesian and in my culture, we are suppose to respect and bow down to our superior. Therefore at times, i find myself scared to ask question, scared to disturb my superiors, bother them or even being disrespectful to them by interrupting them with my frequently asked questions.
However i try to snap out of it and think wisely of how i can communicate with them without being disrespectful or having to disturb them at their work.
Am i making sense? I find it hard to explain about cultures and their practices.
Zoey, what an incredibly valuable experience to have as part of your internship! What an opportunity to soak up as much information and learn from the experience of the senior consultants.
I didn't realise what an affect an office layout could have either.
I am in a similar situation to Eyka who also commented on your post. Except, I don't even have a regular work space AT ALL. Each time I come in for my placement I am in a different area. I have worked in the library, various work stations and even at the front counter at the reception desk. So I have heard extremely varied conversations throughout my internship- things like the troubles the techie is having, someones weekend trip to Bali and even people thinking I'm the receptionist and asking me questions I don't know the answer too- anything but PR practices! Needless to I have never been placed in an office with junior or senior PR staff- because there simply isn't room for it.
I totally agree with you that office layout has a massive impact on the experience that you have. I didn't realise it either until a few weeks in when I felt somewhat displaced and unsure about not having a regular place to work. Granted it provided variety- yet there was also no consistency and I often felt displaced. Having a space to call your own gives you a sense of ownership of the role.
I would have relished the opportunity that you have- how great that everything is free flowing and that you can learn from their myriad of experiences in the PR world!
All the best with the rest of your placement, and enjoy the rest of your time there.
Good Luck with your report
-Alyce
Hello Zoey, you demonstrate how to look in a different way where one could learn something from. Reading your post make me think back what happened to my own office layout. My PR department only consist of four of us: head of department, two PR practitioner, and me. Four of us sit in a room except the head of department's table is bigger :D
And when I compare my situation with yours, I realised the information flow in our office is not that bad either. I do pay attention to what they say and ask each other about work at times and had 'inhaled' them without realising until you mentioned this is a way to help us learn.
Same happened to me when i needed opinion or help from the others, people could give a hand very easily. However, a work flow like this easily encourage casual chatter where we tried our best not to go over the line as our head of department is sitting with us.
Lastly, I am glad to learn that we should always appreciate this unconspicuous opportunity to share and learn something with each other.
With regards,
Chong Kar Woon
Zoey,
I have never noticed the impact of a an office layout until my placement! I have recently moved downstairs to another team but found my new desk not as nice as the one I had at corporate affairs.
Firtly, my new desk is quite tucked away in a corner, I have no major view to outside the office. My office upstairs was much nicer,with a big window a city view of the swan river and freeway. Because it was quite open, spaced out, light and in a relatively quiet section, I had no problems carrying out my work and being able to take time out at my desk by looking outside into the city every now and then!
But now I've find myself unmotivated to do a bunch of readings in a corner. I've even resorted to retreating back upstairs when I need to do some light reading and want some quiet. Funny how this works!
Goodluck with you placement! :)
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